Child Abuse and Domestic Violence: Signs, Reporting, and Child-Focused Practices

CHC50113
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Diploma of Early Childhood
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CHC50113
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Table of Contents
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CHC50113
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Answers
 The maltreatment of a child either physically, sexually or psychologically by the
parents or other caretakers is known as child abuse. Child abuse might consist of any
behavior or failed behavior by the parents or caretakers1. It might lead to actual or possible
harm to the child. It could take place anywhere like the child's house or in schools or any
communities. Child abuse could even lead to injury or death. Physical abuse includes beating
or breaking bones of a child. Sexual abuse involves sexual molestation to the child.
Psychological abuse consists of emotional or mental abuse of the child.
 It is difficult to analyze if domestic abuse has taken place or not, as it occurs
inside the house and the abusers could behave differently around other peoples. A child who
will witness domestic violence will behave aggressively, show anti-social behavior, suffer
from depression or not do well at school2.
Six possible signs of domestic abuse in an early childhood setting are as follows:
 Bruises on a face, head or neck which might have occurred due to hitting
 Drowsiness or vomiting due to a head injury
 Abdomen pain
 Torn or bloodied clothes
 Fractured Bones
 Self-harming symptoms like swallowing of poison
 If there is a situation where an individual suspect that child abuse has taken place,
but there have been no disclosures, then the individual could number of measures:
 Continue talking with the child – The abused child might find it difficult
to talk about the abuse. By continuous conversations, they might be ready to talk.
1 Toby Candler, Hannah Gannon and John Wachira, "Child Protection in A Low-Resource Setting:
Experiences from Paediatric Professionals in Kenya" (2015) 25(6) Child Abuse Review.
2 Mohajer Abbass Hameed, "Challenges and Opportunities for Innovation in Child Abuse and Neglect
Research within the Child Welfare System in Australia" (2018) 43(01) Children Australia.